General Confusion and Misunderstandings in regard to Rebirth by Amitabha-Reciters - By Master Jingzong
淨宗法師談念佛人的糊塗認識
#6 - Amitabha is actually your Buddha - nature, and the Pure Land is merely a product of your Mind. Knowing this, why would you redundantly recite Amitabha Buddha’s name? They often say, “Pure mind, pure land”; so, why is it necessary to pursue the so-called Pure Land in the West? Is this true?
Comment: (continued)
It is taught this way because the Chan School does not teach people to arouse faith, set forth aspiration, or recite the Buddha’s name. They only teach people to meditate upon “the origin of the word”, seek realization, and perceive one’s nature. That is why they say: you should not seek a pure land or try to perceive Amitabha, because this actually leads one away from one’s intrinsic Buddha - Nature.
The statement is not totally wrong; but, it inclines only toward a rational understanding. The law (theory) and phenomena are not thoroughly inter-penetrative. It is different from the Pure Land School, which is consistent with both law and phenomena. So, it cannot be said to truly be “the dual practice of Chan and Pure Land”. True Pure Land practitioners solely focus on the three teachings - faith, aspiration, and practice. We should strive to fully understand this.
淨宗法師 - 念佛人的糊塗認識
其六:“自性彌陀,唯心淨土。自性本來就是佛,何必再念阿彌陀佛;心淨則土淨,還求生什麼西方淨土。” 是嗎?
答:(續上)
何以見得?因為禪宗是不教人生信發願,也不教人念佛,只教人參究話頭,求明心見性。就說是離了自性,沒有淨土可生、彌陀可見。
話雖不錯,但終是偏於理性的見解,不能和事相融通,亦就和事理無礙的淨宗隔別,所以說不是禪淨雙修。修淨土人,專以信、願、行三法為宗,大家要明白的。
Namo Amituofo!
